Part 32 (2/2)
”Yep.” He grinned. ”Now, do you want the job?”
”I don't know. I'll still be on the front lines, won't I?”
”There's a commission involved.”
”How high?”
”Second lieutenant.”
”You're kidding.”
”I wish I were. But only officers can be cleared for Chtorran security. So if we want to add a member to the team, we have to make him an officer.”
”Can't I stay 'Civilian Personnel, Attached'?”
He shook his head. ”No nonmilitary personnel are going to be allowed access to the Control Arm's operations. So what's your choice?”
”Can I have some time to think it over?”
”I need your answer tonight. That's why we were late getting back to you. We had some decisions to make. Some of them were triggered by the events this afternoon. And you're a part of those decisions too. I had to twist some arms to bring you aboard. Now, either take it or leave it.”
”What if I leave it? Then what?”
”I don't know. We'll find something to do with you. I promise, you won't like it.”
”So I don't really have a choice, do I?”
He looked annoyed and apologetic, both at once. ”Son, I don't have time to play games. There's a war on. Do you want to be a part of it or not?”
I looked into his face. ”Yes, I do-it's just that I'm not used to straight answers, so you'll understand if I'm a little skeptical.” He didn't answer that.
He said, ”You'll take the job?”
”Will you make me a first lieutenant?”
He blinked. Then he laughed. ”Don't push too hard. I'll go for first. I won't go as high as captain.” He looked around. ”Did you throw the Bible out too? No-there it is. Stand up. Raise your right hand. Repeat after me-”
THIRTY-TWO.
I ENDED up with a rifle in my hands and a feeling of dejd vu. The rifle was an AM-280 with tunable laser sight. The output was set high in the UV and I had to wear an EV-helmet with retinal-focused eyepieces to see the beam. It spat high-velocity bursts of eighteen-grain needles, as many as three thousand per second. You pointed the beam at your target and pulled the trigger. The needle bursts would tear holes in a steel door. They said you could slice a man in half with a 280. I didn't want to try. I hefted the rifle and looked at it. I had a sour feeling in my stomach. I'd trusted Duke and Obama and ended up with a torch in my hands and Shorty on the receiving end. It'd left me with a bad feeling about weapons. I could admire the technology here. It was the use which bothered me.
The lieutenant slid two boxes across the counter toward me. ”Sign here that you've received the rifle and ammo.”
I held up a finger. ”Wait a minute. Who's supposed to check me out on this?”
”I don't know anything about that.”
”Then I'm not signing for it.”
”Have it your own way.” He shrugged and started to turn away.
”Hold it. Is that phone secure?”
”You can't use it.”
”Slide it over here. This is company business.”
He started to say something else, then thought better of it. He pushed the phone at me. I slid my card into it and punched the number Wallachstein had given me.
The line beeped as it switched to code mode and Wallachstein came on the line, ”Joe's Deli. Joe ain't here.”
”Uncle Ira?”
”Speaking.”
”I've got a problem.”
”Tell me about it.”
”I'm not taking this weapon.”
”Why not?”
”n.o.body seems to know who's responsible for checking me out on it.”
”Don't worry about it-”
”I am worried about it.”
”-you're not going to have to use it. It's for show.”
”I'm sorry, sir, but that's not good enough.”
”Look, son, I don't have anyone free to check you out on that piece before this afternoon. All I want you to do is stand there and look like a soldier. I'll see that you have a thorough course of instruction in it before the week is out.”
I started to protest. Instead, I said, ”May I have that in writing, sir?”
There was silence from the other end of the line. Then he said slowly, ”What's the matter, son?”
”Nothing, sir. But it's like I told you last night. I'm not taking anybody's word for anything anymore.”
He sighed. I could almost see the expression on his face. I wondered if I'd overstepped myself. He said, ”I'll put it in your file. You can check it yourself this afternoon.”
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